A bobber does not mean someone poking their head into a tub of water trying to grab an apple with their mouth. A cork is more than a stopper for your favorite bottle of wine. And a float is not just a thing people ride during a parade. Actually they often pertain to a method of fishing used by millions. It seems every angler has their own method or style and one of the most productive showed up several years ago and that’s a popping a cork.

Historical papers indicate people used various types of floats, bobbers, or corks as early as mid 1800’s with evidence that somewhere around 1844 Norwegian fisherman used small egg-sized floats. Into the 1940’s, glass floats became popular with and where used to support larger commercial fishing nets. However, today they’ve been replaced by aluminum, plastic, natural cork and Styrofoam for most commercial and sport fishing applications.

Corks, bobbers, floats or what ever you elect to call them still serve the same purpose for today’s anglers. Whether a small boy with a cane pole and a can of worms, sitting on the bank, under a giant cypress tree fishing for bream, a family fishing for Bass, Snook or Redfish or a commercial trawler night fishing for swordfish…at some time or another they use some form of strike indication.

Within the last decade someone came up with the idea to pop their corks on the surface like a lure and quickly discovered it could serve more than one purpose. Not only could the bobber indicate a strike but when popped on the surface it attracted otherwise uninterested fish. This new method of attracting fish also attracted the attention of tackle manufacturers. And soon they began capitalizing on the idea creating what is known today as the Popping Cork.

A relatively simple design it soon became the must have strike indicator in every anglers arsenal, especially those targeting saltwater species like Spotted Sea Trout and Redfish. The idea was to generate enough attention to attract an unsuspecting fish. Then as they investigated the commotion there right in front of them was a tasty morsel of food.

This new method of attracting fish worked so well in fact, the cork soon took on a shape of its own and almost immediately began showing up in tackle shops everywhere. Each brightly colored oval or cigar shaped cork had a reinforced hole and a stainless steel wire shaft threaded through round plastic and brass beads then through the cork. Now when popped it not only created a commotion on the surface as the cork slid up and down the stainless steel shaft it struck the beads making a clicking sound.

This little fishing novelty helped anglers catch thousands of fish throughout the world. It did however have one drawback the stainless steel shaft. After a period of time it would bend preventing the cork from sliding properly.

For years after the invention of popping corks all was well in the fishing industry and they sold like hot cakes on a cold winter’s morning. Just think now we had it all… a strike indicator, a fish attractor and the small brass beads added weight which meant further cast. Could our fishing lives …possibly get any better?

Several years ago the Lindy Legendary Fishing Tackle Company based in Minnesota expanded into saltwater market with a product line called Old Bayside. Sensing a need for new and cutting edge products they revolutionized the popping cork market by creating a totally new design to this already popular floatation devices. This completely new style of popping cork called the “Paradise Popper” not only offered the standard oval and cigar shapes one had a concave top designed specifically to move more water.

Not only did we have a new design it went a step further and corrected the one existing drawback of all the others. Instead of using stainless steel shafts they used Titanium which enabled it to spring back to its original shape. I use them exclusively and recommend them to anyone.

Here’s a tip for those using braided line like PowerPro. When using a Paradise Popper or any popping cork for that matter the line often becomes wrapped around the wire shaft. One method I use to prevent this is cutting top swivel off and tying a short piece of heavy Seaguar Leader 40 – 50 lb on the top loop of the wire shaft. I then tie my braid line to the leader. By doing this the heavy leader holds the braid up and further away from the cork allowing the bait to swim under the line instead of over it.

We now understand more about floats and the newest popping cork design so how do you use it? Everyone quickly develops their own techniques but here are the basics.

1. Tie fluorocarbon leader, under the cork to keep your bait about a foot off the bottom. Depending on the bait you’re using you might also place a small split-shot weight 8 to 10 inches above the bait.

2. Make your cast allowing everything to settle in the water, much like using a topwater lure.

3. Now periodically snap the rod tip using your wrist while keeping your rod tip down at about a 45 degree angle. This allows the cork to displace the most water and when done properly the cork should make a gulping sound.

4. Allow the cork to settle for about a minute or two and repeat the process until everything disappears.

5. Finally, when the strike comes do not snatch back on the rod instead quickly take up the slack get the line tight and give a short quick tug to set the hook.

Wintertime’s great to get out fishing especially for sea trout. Purchase some Paradise Poppers, get the boat ready, load up the kids and head out for a great day on the water. And by the way you’ll surely be having fish for dinner.

This article is owned by Capt. Woody Gore and is copyright protected. Permission to republish this article in print or online must be granted by Capt. Gore. wgore@ix.netcom.com

Tampa Bay’s Fishing Report January 2008

January finally brought a few cold weather days at least enough to kill my plants and hopefully push some of the larger Sea Trout inshore. Trout are now legal as of January first in the southern region. However the season closes in February in the northeast and northwest. For anglers normally fishing the northwest region your daily catch is five Sea Trout. However if you’re looking for nice trout dinner during February and fishing the southern region remember you’re limited to only four trout and they must be landed in the southern zone. So, don’t launch at Anclote, catch your trout in the sound and return to Anclote you’ll be in illegal possession of Sea Trout and subject to a fine if caught. It’s confusing, but it’s the law.

For the most part it seemed like spring all month long. The fish can’t decide whether to make the run for the rivers and creeks or stay on the flats. Well maybe this month we’ll get some colder temps. Now don’t get me wrong I like these warmer winters. Like most crackers born in Florida, when the temps drop below seventy degrees I start digging out the winter duds.

The fishing overall has been good in the bay area plenty of snook, reds, trout, and Sheepshead. The cobia bite been slower without the colder water temps needed send them looking for warm water. But plenty of small black tips are around the Big Bend Power Plant and readily take shrimp offered on a jig. These guys are loads of fun and eat pretty well provided you bleed, eviscerate and quickly put them on ice until you can clean them. The grouper bites been fairly well, inside the bay. I’ve had the most success trolling various rock piles and structure in and around the 20 to 25 foot range. So many folks think the only place to catch inshore gags is the shipping channels. Well guess again. Plenty of structure around if you’ll only take time to look for it on your bottom machine. Try this, when you catch a gag, mark the location and go back to see what kind of bottom you came over. Often a pinfish, grunt, sardine or piece of squid dropped down on a knocker rig at the same location will produce other nice fish. Finding new locations is time consuming and you can believe no ones giving you a free ride with their numbers.

Snook (Closed Season December 15 through January 31 and May, June, July, August)
Snook fishing is one of those on then off again things in the cooler months. If you can get live baits the bite is not bad. Greenbacks reported at the skyway but use a ¼ inch net because the small threadfins are also there. If the temps begin dropping as always look for deep water canals, rivers, creeks with deep muddy-bottoms. I’ve had some action on warmer sunny days using artificial lures like the Old Bayside Shadlyn and Shrimp. 

Redfish
With February comes some of the best site fishing because the algae, starts dying and the water, clears up. The low tides and clear water make seeing redfish a dream. As always we’re catching reds in with the mullet schools using both live bait and artificial lures. No really good schools but plenty of singles around. Again mullet are the key to finding reds they really like staying with those mullet, so keep you eyes open. You’ll find reds around the flats near Weedon, Double Branch, Simmons Park, Ft. Desoto and Joe’s Island. Expect some good excitement when pitching soft plastics around the mangroves on high in coming tides or low tide flats.

Spotted Sea Trout (Check the regulations for the zone you’re fishing)
February will continue producing some good bites on incoming or outgoing tides, topwater action on a calm early morning flat can be great but live shrimp, artificial shrimp, Old BaySide Paradise Popper corks and any good grass flat will produce all the nice trout you want this month. The trout bites also been first-rate around the Pinellas Point and Ft. Desoto flats. Also check the flats around Weedon Island, 4^th Street, Culbreath Bayou and Cypress Street in the north, and Simons Park, Joes Island, Tarpon Key for good trout action in the south. The Old Bayside Shrimp, Skeleton Shad and Shadlyn are producing good catches of trout everywhere but especially in the Clearwater area. I’ve run several trips there this past month with catches of 40 to 50 fish per trip. The bites so good we bend the barbs down and use Shakespeare’s X-Tool Dehooker  to release most fish.

Cobia
The cooler temps didn’t happen as expected so the cobia bites been poor around the power plants.
Other

Sheep head should continue around bridges, oyster bars and deep water docks. Try using barnacles, green mussels, shrimp or oysters. Scrape the pilings to get them going. Grouper in the bay are doing well and should continue. If trolling, watch your bottom machine and troll areas other than the channels. There are plenty of rock piles and ledges in the bay and sometimes they’re easier to fish than the channels.

GIVE ME A CALL & LET’S GO FISHING – If you’re interested in fishing or learning to fish…Captain Woody’s been guiding and fishing Florida waters for over 50 year’s providing single boat charters for up to 4 anglers or multiple boats for large group events. And the results are always the same “Memorable Fishing Adventures with Tampa’s Top Guide”.

 For more information or to book a trip, visit his website at WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM.

You can also reach me on my cell at 813-477-3814, in my office at: 813-982-2034, or send an email to WGORE@IX.NETCOM.COM

Tampa Bay’s Fishing Report February 2008

The good news all you southern region trout anglers… the season opened on January 1^st and some cooler weather should mean plenty of fish. However, if you fish the northwest region… trout season is closed the entire month of February.

This year many anglers seemingly are taking a different position regarding Sea Trout by releasing more than they keep. Once a plentiful and seemingly endless resource, trout suffered severely during the bouts with red tide. And if we get it again it could definitely put a crimp in our slow to recover trout populations. Speaking with anglers throughout 2007 I’ve learned more are electing to release rather and fillet. However, just tossing them back in the water doesn’t mean they’ll survive. We must release them quickly, in or near the water and never use a landing net, dry hands or rags. If a photo is required do it quickly by gently. Try using one of the non-evasive bottom-lip gripping devices while holding them fish horizontally. Keep in mind they cannot breathe out of water so if you’ve ever wonder how long you should keep them out for a photo… try holding your breath until returning them to the water.

Delicious table fare and if you want some a fish or two for dinner… that’s ok… but only keep enough for a single meal. Never plan on filling the freezer with fillets that become freezer burned and thrown away after a few weeks. There’s nothing better than fresh caught fish and it gives you another excuse to go fishing…“Like we really need one”.

Trout are voracious eaters and can quickly swallow your bait causing the hook to lodge in their throat. Once this occurs even the best attempts at releasing them unharmed seems futile. So whenever trout fishing especially with live bait and even artificial’s it’s important to bend the barb down on your hooks, use a light-wire circle, (I prefer “Daiichi Bleeding Bait Circle’s”), and be quicker on your hook-set which prevents deep throat hooks. A quick hook-set does not mean a hard set… when you feel the bite, lift your rod and reel at the same time, to get your line tight, keep the rod bent preventing the barb-less hook from dislodging, and reel.

Grass flats, sandy potholes, incoming or outgoing tides live baits or artificial lures and it’s game on. Try fishing the two to three foot of water in front of Bishops Harbor, Cockroach Bay, Apollo Beach, Weedon Island, Culbreath Isles, Pinellas Point, Tarpon Key, Ft. Desoto, Boca Ciega Bay Clearwater, or Anclote Key.

Basically, you can find Snook, Redfish and Trout are found all over Tampa Bay from the southeast shore including the Alafia River, Picnic Island, Simmons Park, Bishop Harbor, Joe Island down into Bradenton and Sarasota. There is excellent fishing around Weedon Island, Fourth Street, Cypress Flats, Rocky Point, Double Branch, and Culbreath Isle Flats.

Snook: Closed December 1st through the last day of February. As long as the water temperatures don’t fall too rapidly you should be able to target a few Snook, in and around residential canals, rivers, and deep-water creeks.

Redfish: Redfish are continuing feed and should continue right through the colder months. You’ll find on shallow-water flats on calm days with their tails up. The looking for Redfish watch for wading birds around the flats and mangroves because they feed on the same things as Redfish. Its also mullet time and large numbers are schooling on the grass flats. Redfish tend to hang with these large schools eating whatever they stir up. Hotspots include spotty grass flats near Weedon Island, Double Branch, Rocky Creek, Simmons Park, Bishops Harbor, Tarpon Key, Indian Key, and Joe Island.

Cobia, Sharks, Jacks: Cobia and smaller Blacktip, Spinner, Bonnethead, and Hammerhead sharks should show up around the power plant hot water runoffs as the water temperatures drop. Using large shrimp, small crabs and pinfish always entices a quick hookup.

There are plenty of large Jack Crevalle (Yellowtail) feeding on the remaining bait schools and glass minnows. If you’ve never tangled with one of these incredible fighters you’re in for a real surprise. Hooking and landing a Yellowtail in the 15 to 20 pound class is something you’ll not soon forget. When it’s over you’d swear you arms are three inches longer. Use whitebait if you can find it or shinny diving artificial’s lures with quick erratic actions.

Other Things to Catch: Look for Sheepshead and Mangroves off the beaches on patches of hard bottom also bridges, oyster bars, rock piles or fish attractors and deep water docks. Try green mussels, shrimp or oysters. Scrape the pilings to get them going.

If you’re interested in learning to fish the bay area…“GIVE ME A CALL & LET’S GO FISHING” Captain Woody’s been guiding and fishing Florida waters for over 50 year’s providing single boat charters for up to 4 anglers or multiple boats for large group events. And the results are always the same “Memorable Fishing Adventures with Tampa’s Top Guide”.

For more information or to book a trip, call his mobile at: 813-477-3814, call his office at: 813-982-2034, email him at WGORE@IX.NETCOM.COM or visit his website at WWW.CAPTAINWOODYGORE.COM.